The state Department of Natural Resources plans to replace a long-time shooting range south of Traverse City. The informal gun range is in Hoosier Valley.
It’s prompted complaints from residents in Blair Township concerned with noise and safety.
Bill Sterrett is a District Supervisor with the DNR. He says a subdivision of more than 100 homes is located near the range.
“It’s not that it’s been a dismal failure there. It’s just the location itself is just not conducive to … to having shooting occur in such close proximity to other populated areas.”
Sterrett says the DNR has drawn up three possible locations for a new gun range. The agency will take public comment on the issue at a meeting later this month to find out what kind of range people want.
“Should it be just sighting in for rifles … should it be long ranges," Sterrett said. "Should it be hand guns ... should it be automatic weapon platform ... archery … that sort of thing.”
Sterrett says this meeting is a follow up to one held last year. He says the DNR has established rules for Hoosier Valley in the interim as the agency looks for a long-term solution.
The meeting is scheduled for June 24 at 6:30 pm -- in the Traverse City Civic Center.